“Left vs.
Right”: A Different Perspective
Every year, August 13th is recognized as National Left-Hander’s
Day.
Other than our President Barack Obama, other notable
“Lefties” include: Oprah Winfrey, Bill
Gates, Celine Dion, Prince William, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Laurence
Fishburne, Adam Levine, LeBron James, Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Lee and former
Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, Sr.
I knew my niece and my late brother were “lefties.”
However, I didn’t realize so many others were in the same boat…trying to
successfully navigate in a right-handed world.
It must be somewhat challenging to adjust to a world
that is totally equipped to function in a “right-handed” mentality in which 90%
inhabit.
It is similar to my diagnosis of Primary Progressive
Multiple Sclerosis in 2012. Only 5 – 10% of patients have it, yet you become
keenly aware that all of the research, fundraising, medical advances and
attention is given to the most common type, Relapsing Remitting, which affects
90% of the approximately 3 million people with the disease. You are left as an “outsider”
traveling this journey along.
Finding out that so many people are left-handed was
fascinating to me. I realized that they share a distinct perspective of the
world that the majority right-handers don’t have. Yet, the world would not be
as awesome without them.
Some Interesting Facts include:
- Left-handers make up between 5% and 10% of the population.
- Men are more likely to be left-handed than women.
- Left-handers are more likely to be geniuses.
- Recover from strokes faster.
- Of the last 5 Presidents of the United States, 3 were left-handed. (Obama, Clinton and Bush, Sr.)
- Musicians, painters and writers are significantly more likely to be left-handed.
- “The wedding ring goes on the left ring finger because it is the only finger with a vein that connects to a heart.” – psychofactz.tumblr.com
- “Left-handed people can deal with more data that doesn’t come in an organized way. The left brain normally controls the right side, which is very powerful.” – Dr. Oz
- Make especially good baseball players, tennis players, swimmers, boxers and fencers. (almost 40% of the top tennis players are lefties)
- Adjust to seeing underwater quicker; less able to roll their tongue than a righty and nails grow faster on the left hand than the right.
- Left-Handers are more likely to have allergies; more prone to migraines and more likely to be insomniacs.
- Use the right side of the brain the most; better at multi-tasking and are more likely to suffer stuttering and dyslexia.
- Left handed college graduates go on to become 26% richer than right handed graduates.
It is a clear example why different perspectives,
points-of-view and diversity are so important.
#DifferentPerspectiveIsGood
The Bible has used right and left as directionals,
typically designating the right as the best.
Matthew
6:3-4(NKJV): 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do
not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your
charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will
Himself reward you openly.
Psalm
63:8 (NKJV): 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your
right hand upholds me.
Matthew
25:32-33 (NKJV): 32 All the nations will be gathered
before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides
his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but
the goats on the left.
However, God is “not the author of confusion.” He does not make mistakes. Thus, “lefties” can add a necessary, powerful perspective to the world.
Humorous
Quotes
“I’m left-handed…what’s your super power?”
“I may be left-handed, but I am always right.”
“If the right side of the brain controls the left
side of the body, then only the left-handed people are in their right minds!”
“Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights
make a left.”
Therefore,
it is wise for us to embrace our uniqueness in order to add value to each other
and the world.
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